6 ideas to make your own DIY haunted house Halloween decorations using items from thrift stores, antique shops, or things you already own.
Welcome to our haunted entryway—well, just the entryway is haunted, not the whole house. I don’t usually go all-out for Halloween, but our foyer table is the one place I like to add a little spookiness since it’s what trick-or-treaters see first.
This year I decided to have fun and create a handful of DIY haunted house Halloween pieces, mostly using things I already had or found at thrift or antique stores. The result feels moody, vintage, and a little eerie—perfect for Halloween without being over the top.
It’s a little creepy in the dark—so I’m avoiding eye contact for a while—but the kids think it’s hilarious. My daughters named the fake crow Wilbur and the veiled bust Elsa; the skull is Fred because it looks a little “thin in the skin.”
The best part: most pieces were assembled from things already in my decor stash or items I picked up at thrift and antique shops. If you want to recreate a similar vignette, here are six easy ideas to get you started.
6 DIY Haunted House Halloween Decor Ideas
1. DIY Skull Vase
A regular-sized fake skull makes an instant, dramatic vase. You don’t need to carve it—just use a floral foam block and fake flowers. This quick project looks striking and is fully reversible for next year.
Supplies
- Fake skull (preferably hollow or lightweight)
- Floral foam block
- Knife or utility knife
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Wire cutters
- Faux flowers of your choice
Steps
- Trim the floral foam to fit the top of the skull.
- Secure the foam in place with a few dots of hot glue.
- Cut faux flower stems to length and press them into the foam to create a bouquet.
The skull vase gives a Día de Muertos–meets-vintage-halloween look—festive and a little macabre in the best way.
2. DIY Spooky Halloween Portraits
Turn ordinary frames into eerie focal points by swapping the photos for vintage-style spooky portraits. You can find printable Victorian portraits or other creepy artwork to print on thick paper, then trim and frame them. Displaying mismatched or slightly crooked frames adds to the haunted-house vibe.
3. Put a Crow On It
This is less of a DIY project and more of a design trick: place a single fake crow on unexpected surfaces—bookcases, lamps, busts, or mantels. A lone crow instantly creates a moody, literary feel—think Poe’s “The Raven”—and it’s an easy way to add personality to any vignette.
4. DIY Apothecary Display
Turn a cloche, bell jar, or the glass dome from an old clock into a tiny apothecary display. Line the bottom with Spanish moss or faux fiberfill, then place a single eerie object inside—a skeleton hand, a black rose, a painted miniature house, a fake spider, or a flickering candle. This creates a museum-like collectible that feels antique and mysterious.
5. Candelabra Display
A tarnished or rustic candelabra instantly adds gothic charm. Use flameless flickering candles for safety and realism. Group the candelabra with vintage frames, stacked books, and your skull vase to create a layered, moody centerpiece for an entry table or mantel.
6. Mirror Message
Writing a message on a mirror with red lipstick is an easy and effective trick. Choose a short, haunting phrase and write it in a slightly messy hand for maximum effect. Some ideas: “Nevermore,” “Something wicked this way comes,” “Get out,” “I see you,” or simply “Boo.” A mirror message is low-cost, reversible, and great for creating a spine-tingling moment when someone catches a glimpse of it.
More DIY Haunted House Halloween Decor Ideas
- Use stacks of old books from thrift stores as risers for height and texture.
- Black cheesecloth is an inexpensive way to add a tattered, spooky layer to tabletops.
- Spanish moss scattered under items reads like dust and decay—perfect for haunted styling.
- Hang picture frames slightly askew to create an unsettling, aged look.
- Stretch a little fake spider web over chandeliers, banisters, and shelves for instant atmosphere.
- Collect twigs from the yard and place them in a vase for free, natural texture.
There’s a house nearby that transforms into a full haunted motel each Halloween for neighborhood kids—it’s elaborate and so much fun. I probably won’t build a haunted walkthrough, but dressing up my entryway with a few intentional pieces scratches the creative itch and makes Halloween feel special.
Have you tried making DIY haunted-house decorations? This year was my first time really leaning into spooky decor, and I loved experimenting. With a few thrifted finds and simple craft supplies, you can create moody, vintage-inspired Halloween scenes that look curated and eerie without a big budget.
More Halloween Decor Tips and Resources
- Browse articles and printables for vintage Halloween art and potion labels to add to your displays.
- Look for realistic faux pumpkins and vintage-style decor to layer into your vignettes.
- Search for printable skeletons, potion bottles, and old apothecary labels to make your displays feel curated and authentic.
